Shetland pony: a description of the breed, features of care and breeding. Little horse

For a long time already horses have ceased to play a significant role in the life of mankind, as some hundred years ago. Powerful trucks and a variety of agricultural machinery displaced four-legged workers. Nevertheless, they have a place in the present, some breeds do not lose their popularity. These include the Shetland pony. This is one of the most numerous breeds in the world. They are common in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and America.

Pony

Pony refers to the subspecies of a domestic horse. In translation from the Galician ponaidh - a small horse. A distinctive feature of the subspecies is a small growth. In different countries, the "small" has different meanings:

• In Russia, ponies include horses as tall as 110 cm;
• In Germany - up to 120 cm;
• In England - 147.3 cm;
• In the West, they include individuals whose growth does not exceed 152 cm.

The discrepancy in figures does not prevent "donuts" from remaining at the peak of popularity. Each owner chooses a horse in accordance with their needs. Someone needs just a little bit, as a pet - only for "kissing," and someone plans to compete in competitions.

Origin

The Shetland archipelago divides the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. This is the northernmost land of the British Isles. The archipelago has 117 reefs and islands, only 24 of them are inhabited. Deserted, tree-free hills, harsh climate, poor vegetation, wetlands, dampness, constant winds - so you can describe the place of "birth" of the breed called "Shetland pony".

Absolutely accurate information about the origin of the breed there. They were first discovered in 500 BC. According to scientists, these are possible descendants of the "tundra" pony. They could have come to Scotland from Scandinavia ten thousand years ago.

According to another version, as far back as the I-IV centuries ponies were brought to the islands by Picts (the most ancient inhabitants of Scotland). At that time the territory was covered with forests, they completely disappeared in the 9th-10th centuries due to climate change. Under such conditions, few animals survived: sheep, field mice, hedgehogs and Shetland ponies. Growth, endurance, the strength of the constitution - on such grounds was a centuries-old natural selection. Isolation promoted the natural breeding of the breed "in itself". Attempts to bring in the archipelago of ordinary horses were unsuccessful.

Description

The Shetland pony (described below) has a recognizable appearance that resembles a heavy vehicle in miniature. A pedigree representative should have the following characteristics:

• Height at the withers - 65-110 cm;
• Weight - up to 200 kg;
• The constitution is strong;
• Head is small, proportional,
• The forehead is wide;
• The profile is straight, concave or hump-nosed (both are undesirable);
• Eyes large, widely spaced (the "eye of the eye" is undesirable, can be of different colors);
• The mouth is small;
• Nostrils wide;
• Ears correctly placed, small;
• Neck muscular, with high yield;
• Torso broad;
• The breast is well developed, broad, deep;
• Abdomen sagging, voluminous;
• Back broad, short, muscular;
• Croup straight;
• Legs bony, strong, short:

- front: without intercepts, correctly set, with developed carpal joint;

- rear: correctly placed ("O" - and "X" -shaped posts are undesirable), a clearly delineated hock joint, a well developed, dry;

• Hooves - rounded shape, with a solid ungulate horn (as a rule, animals are not smoked);
• Woolly covering - dense undercoat, long wool;
• Tail and mane - magnificent;
• Suit - the most diverse, often piebald (purebred mainly black);
• Life expectancy is 30-40 years, the recorded record is 54 years.

Reproduction is no different from ordinary horses. Due to the small size of the hedgehogs, it is advisable to have a veterinary specialist on labor. One or two foals are born. Selection of animals is carried out taking into account the rules for breeding farm animals. Shetland pony - a very strong horse, in terms of weight, they are able to carry cargo twice as large as their tall brothers.

Features

Animals of this breed have their own characteristics:

• High life expectancy;
• Character is bold and very independent;
• Have a sharp mind and ingenuity;
• Easily yield to training (bad habits also grasp on the fly);
• May exhibit stubbornness;
• Very hardy;
• Are prone to obesity;
• Often there are blue-eyed individuals (formerly called white-belts);
• Do not differ with great speed and graceful movements;
• They have a rough coat, long tails and manes;
• Selection of working qualities, without taking into account other characteristics provided a variety of suits in the breed.

While the foal is small and looks like a plush toy, inexperienced owners make a serious mistake, spoiling pets. An adult uncontrolled three-year-old pony weighing 200 kg and height when climbing to a rack to 2 meters will be a problem. The strictness of education must be present. It is necessary to demand complete and unconditional obedience in any actions on the part of the person (cleaning the horse or cleaning the stall).

Another nuance - a ride under the saddle. A small horse with round sides is so steep that it is almost impossible to stay on it. Experienced horse breeders first call the young in a cart. Accustomed to obey the occasion and the voice commands of the pony (about a month), calmly come under the top.

Breeding

Despite the huge popularity and demand for small horses, the issue of animal cleanness for many years was not among the interests of horse breeders. Nobody was engaged in breed Shetland pony. Breeding with proper breeding selection began only in 1870. A great lover of horses Lord Londonderry on the island of Bressay (Shetland archipelago) laid a stud farm for breeding ponies. Specialists conducted the most rigorous selection for fixing the characteristic features and the exterior type of horses.

The created society for the breeding of Shetland ponies contributed to the first volume of the breeding book of manufacturers of the Londonderry plant. Although the company closed in 1899 due to the decline in demand for ponies, many modern breed champions still have famous plant manufacturers in their pedigree.

Until the nineteenth century, breeding was carried out "clean" without the addition of foreign blood. The desire to use ponies as riding horses has put horse breeders on the task of increasing the growth of animals. The result of the work was the appearance of several intra-breed types, or offspring:

• Semburgskoe. In the middle of the century on the Somberg peninsula and the south coast of the Isle of Manland, the mare's Shetland ponies were covered with Norwegian fjord stallions. Height at the withers of the offspring reached 130 cm.
• Fitlar. The use of the method of reproductive crossing with the derivable Arabian stallion (he was a descendant of the legendary Bolivar). The crossbreeds grew to 120 cm.
• American Shetland. They were obtained as a result of crossing the first Shetland mares with stallions of the Hakne breed, then by the infusion of blood of the Arabian and thoroughbred mounts . Height at withers up to 130 cm.

Such human intervention led to the division of the breed into two classes:

• "A", or the basic type (main), animals are referred to it up to 107 cm;
• "B", or ennobled type, - animals from 107 to 120 cm at the withers.

The end of the 19 th - the beginning of the 20th century was marked by a massive export of ponies to all countries of the world. The livestock outside the UK at times exceeds the number of horses in the historical homeland.

Content

Absence of dampness, drafts, dry litter, high-quality feed, clean water, daily exercise - such requirements for the content of horses Shetland pony. Care does not require special conditions. On the contrary, horses are unpretentious, hardy, can be on the pastures as much as possible. Dense hair in conditions of stable maintenance cut. The friendly character of the animals makes it possible to keep two animals in one stall (3 m by 4 m).

Preferably, the basis of the ration is hay or pasture grass, oats sometimes cause an allergic reaction. Cleaned as the contamination, with stable content - daily. Usually ponies do not need to be forged. Veterinary treatment is the same as for ordinary horses.

Using

Shetland pony is widely used in equestrian sport, and not only in the children's. In 1960, at the Rome Olympics, Little Model performed in dressage, and in Mexico in 1968 Stroller took silver in jumping. The growth of both horses was within 145 cm.

Ponies are frequent participants of circus performances, they are used in riding schools, rentals. Many animal lovers lead them as pets. Brilliant mind and magnificent reaction of the kids allow them to work as guides for the blind. In Holland, to this day, small toilers have not given up and are cultivating vegetable plantations with their help.